TRADE UNION FACILITY TIME
Facility time arrangements at the Isle of Wight Council
The Isle of Wight council whilst having statutory obligations to comply with employment legislation to make provision for trade union facility time believes in the benefits that can be realised by positive employee relations. All facility time arrangements are set out in an agreement in which all parties can make a positive contribution to the efficient and effective management of council services by setting out the consultation processes, conditions of recognition and facilities which will be made available to Union representatives and specifying how reasonable time off for union duties and activities, training and for health and safety, can work to the mutual advantage of both parties. The agreement takes account of current practices within the council; employment protection legislation; the ACAS Code of Practice 3 for time off for trade union duties and activities, the health and safety commission code of practice on safety representatives and appropriate national agreements.
The council affords reasonable time off with pay to trade union representatives, subject to the needs of the service, to carry out duties concerned with employee relations and the members they represent. The purpose for this time off must be either to carry out official union duties or to undergo relevant training as approved by the TUC or Trade Union. The amount of time-off a steward may take to undertake official union duties in their particular constituency should not normally exceed one day per month, with an additional two hours per month plus travelling time being allowed to attend Union meetings to discuss employee relations matters concerning the Council. There will normally be a maximum of one steward in each of the council service areas.
What trade unions are recognised by the Isle of Wight Council?
The following trade unions are represented in the Isle of Wight Council:
GMB National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD) UNISON UNITE Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) VOICE - Fire Brigades Union National Association of Fire Officers Retained Firefighters Union The Association of Principal Fire Officers National Association of Schoolmasters / Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) National Union of Teachers (NUT)
What is the total number of staff that are designated as union representatives with the Isle of Wight Council (including general, learning and health and safety representatives)?
There are 23 accredited Unison representatives (as the largest recognised trade union). These are members of staff who in the course of their employment are accredited by their trade union to assist the union branch secretary in the distribution of information; act as a communication link between managers and union members and representing members at formal hearings such as grievance, disciplinary, capability etc when the branch secretary is unable to do so.
FBU – 3 accredited representatives NAFO – 0 representatives currently NSEAD – 3 representatives
Under an agreement determined through the schools forum, the following accredited union representatives are funded to provide facilities time:
GMB – 1 Branch Secretary Unite – 1 Branch Secretary ASCL – 1 Branch Secretary VOICE – 1 Branch Secretary NASUWT – 1 Branch Secretary NAHT – 1 Branch Secretary ATL – 1 Branch Secretary NUT – 1 Branch Secretary A copy of the report setting out the arrangements can be found here: https://www.iwight.com/Meetings/committees/Schools%20Forum/15-12- 15/Paper%20C.pdf
What is the total number of union representatives who devote at least 50 percent of their time to union duties?
There is one Unison branch secretary who conducts the majority of employee representational activity on behalf of Unison members.
How much does the council spend on trade union facilities time?
A basic estimate of spending on unions (calculated by the cost of a full time branch secretary and the number of full time equivalent days spent on union duties by trade union representatives multiplied by the average salary).
The basic estimate of spending is £61,185 including on costs. Schools are re-charged for time spent on representation duties and therefore, the cost of this is excluded from the above figure.
A basic estimate of spending on unions as a percentage of the total pay bill (calculated as the number of full time equivalent days spent on union duties multiplied by the average salary divided by the total pay bill).
A basic estimate of spending on unions as a percentage of the total pay bill is 0.15% excluding on costs.
February 2017